Pine

Pine is the 14th letter in the Gaelic tree alphabet and the first vowal, A, (for ailm, though the modern Gaelic is Giuthas). The Scots pine is a keystone species of the Caldedonian forest, and our only native conifer tree. It can grow to prodigious size and is host to many charismatic species such as the Scottish crossbill, capercaillie, pine marten and red squirrel. As an evergreen it is symbolic of immortality and has long been considered a sacred tree.

Snippets of lore

Here are the titbits of fact and folklore about pine tweeted by @cybercrofter on 14 December 2011.

Pine is the 14th letter in the Gaelic tree alphabet and the first vowel, A, (for ailm, though the modern Gaelic is giuthas).

Guithas (Gaelic for pine) comes from 'gis' = resin or pitch. Scots pine's latin name is Pinus sylvestris. Pine timber is also called 'deal'.

The Scots pine is a keystone species of the Caldedonian forest, and the UK's only native conifer tree.

Pineapples were called after pine cones (also called tree eggs).

Scots pine can live up to 600 years old and grow up to 30m tall and 4.5 metres in girth.

Scots pine needles grow in pairs, flat on top, rounded below, with a blue waxy sheen. They are shed after about 3 years.